Woman is alleged to have fled after taking kids from adoptive parents

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RALEIGH, N.C. — A biological mother accused of kidnapping her 17-month-old twins from their adoptive parents in North Carolina has been arrested in Canada, and authorities say the children are safe.

Allison Lee Quets, 49, and the twins were found Friday night when police in Ottawa, Canada, acted on a tip, the FBI said in a statement early Saturday. The toddlers, Tyler Lee and Holly Ann Needham, were placed in the custody of Canadian Social Services.

Quets could face federal charges of international parental kidnapping.

A custody agreement allowed Quets to take the children for a brief visit Dec. 22-24, but authorities said she never returned them. The FBI said an investigation indicated Quets crossed the Canadian border with the twins Dec. 23.

The children lived in the Raleigh suburb of Apex with their adoptive parents, Denise and Kevin Needham. Quets had a home in nearby Durham.

Officials with the FBI Victim Witness program were arranging for the adoptive parents to travel to Canada to be with their children.